Fitting for water-heating apparatus



I Jan. 14, 1930. 1.. B. HOULIHAN 1,743,547

FITTING FOR WATER HEATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 27, 1925 FIG. luvgmon Ahw Patented Jan. 14-, 1939 tilii'fiifi ETATES LA NRENCE B. HOUIJII'IAN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA FITTING FOR WATER-HEATING APPARATUS Application filed November 27, 1925.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in water heating apparatus which when applied to such apparatus renders the costs of installation thereof cheaper than heretofore and the operation thereof more efficient.

My invention consists of the devices hereinaf er described the use of which enables water heating apparatus of the type herein described to be installed and used with fewer parts, in less time and labor, then heretofore.

Among the objects of my invention are the reducing the costs of installation of said apparatus and making the same more efficient in operation.

In the accompanying drawing which forms part of this specification, Figure 1 represents an elevation of my improved fitting showing its side having two threaded bosses projecting therefrom. Figure 2 represents a section of Figure l on line A-A. Figure 3 represents a water heating apparatus with said fitting connecting parts thereof. Figure 4 represents, substantially, a view of Figure 3 revolved on its vertical axis 90 to the left.

Figure 5 represents a solid side view of Figure 2 with outlet 1 thereof plugged. Like reference figures refer to like parts throughout.

In Figure 2, l is a side elevation of my improved fitting consisting of a metal casting cast with three perforated bosses, 3, a, 5; 3 and a projecting from one side of 1, and 5 from its opposite side. Said bosses 3, 1 and 5 are cast with openings or perforations, 3, 1, and 5 respectively. The openings 4: 5 are concentric and opening 3 is distant therefrom and opens on the same side of 1 as l. All of said openings 3, 4 and 5 communicate with longitudinal passage 2 of 1. Bosses 3 and 5 are threaded with outside or male threads and boss a with an inside or female thread.

In Figures 3, 6 is a water boiler of the standard and customary construction used in kitchens in connection with kitchen ranges. It has a base 7 and a draining or blow off device 7, a cold water influent pipe 8, a hot water 'efliuent pipe 9. It is tapped with threaded openings at 10 and 17 Serial No. 71,868.

In Figure 3, 11 is a water heater of the standard and customary construction for heating the water passing therethrough with gas. It has a water heating coil 12 which has union fittings 13 andl l at its ends. 14 connects with pipe 15, which is connected at its opposite end with elbow 16, which in turn is connected with nipple 17 which is screwed into threaded opening 17 of boiler 6.

As shown in Figure 3, male threaded boss 5 of 1 is screwed into threaded hole 10 of the. cold water outlet of boiler 6 and male threaded boss 3 of 1 is connected to heating coil 12 by union 13. When said parts are so connected and coil 12 is connected to boiler 6 by i and through 1 1, 15, 16, 1'? through 17; said parts 10, 5 and 3 of 1,13,12,14l,15,16,17,17 and 6 constitute the means through which the water to be heated in boiler 6 circulates when heat is applied for heating said water to coil 12. .7 r

In Figure 3, 18 represents a thermostat of the usual and customary construction which provided with a thermal "element which when 18 is connected as herein described, projects into the water in boiler 6' which is to be heated. The expansion and contraction of said thermal element controls the flow of gas to the burner of the water heater 11,. automatically shutting off the gas when the water in the boiler 6 has been heated to the desired temperature and permitting the flow of gas when said water has been cooled below that temperature by the drawing off of heated water and the influx of cold water into boiler 6 when hot water from the boiler is drawn therefrom. 19 represents an air mixer for mixing air with gas burned in the burner. 20 represents a shut off valve to control the flow of gas to the burner. It is connected by fittings 20, 21, 21, 22, 22 to one side of thermostat 18 which is connected on its other side by pipe 23 with gas supply source. 18 is screwed into female threaded boss 4 of1 and the parts specified in this paragraph as con nected including the connection between 18 and 1 of 1 constitute the means for regulating the water temperature and the supply of I gas used to heat said water in boiler 6 of water heater 11.

When no thermostat is used opening 4 in boss 4 of l is plugged by a plug 24 as shown in Figure 5. When this condition obtains, pipe 22 is connected with the source of gas supply at a point located at 25 Figure 4:.-

It is obvious that when a water heating apparatus is installed with my improved fitting casting 1 forming part thereof, fewer fittings are used and fewer connections are made thereby effecting asaving in materials and labor. It is also apparent that when fitting 1 is embodied inia water heating apparatus the fewer the connections are made in the path of the circulating water 'the stronger the circulating current will be and thereby such apparatusso installed will be more eflicient in its operation as compared with an apparatus installed in the usual manner with the greater number of parts and connections.

The operation of a water heating apparatus of which fitting is a part will besubstantially as follows. Gas valve 20 is closed to shut off the'flow of gas to the burner. Water is then permitted to flow into tank 6 until all the air contained therein is forced out 4 and water flows-from the hot water spigot at point of'consumption. The water thus put into tank 6 being cold-,the thermal element of the thermostat will so operate as to permit gas to passathrough it to gas valve 20 which when opened will supply gas to the burner. The burning of gas there will heat the water in coil 12 and as .it becomes hot it will circulate and ass into tank 6. When thewater in tank 6 ecomesahot enough the thermostat will lessen the gas supply and the Water :will be maintained at the predetermined temperature until water is drawn from 'the tank when the cold of the water will cause the thermostat to increase the supply of gas which whenburned as aforesaid will bring the water in tank 6 to the predetermined heat, and these operations will continue until gas valve'20 is closed and the gas shut off. \Vhat I claim as my invention is: Thecombination of a stand-boiler having a:lateral port adjacent the bottom and a secondort-near its top and means, including a heating coil and fitting, establishing communication bet-ween said ports, said fitting'having an elongated passage andthree laterally I directed nipples in communication with: said 1 "passage, two of said nipples being alined at one end of the'fitting'and the third nipple at the opposite end of said fitting, one of said alined nipples being directly connected into said lateral port, a thermostat secured in-sec- 0nd alined nipple, and the third nipple connected with said coil.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

LAWRENCE B. HOULIHAN. 

